Shipping box



May 29, 1945.- I J. EQ BoRAH ET' AL 2,377,125

SHIPPING Box Filed July ll1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. ../oH/V E: BORA/1. duo/TH M Bog/JH.

May 29, 1945. J. E. BORAH Erm. 42,377,125

. v SHIPPING BOX Filed July 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jo/vw E. Boem/1 BY Jup/TH M. 50m/1.

Patented May 29, 1945 Osceola,

This vinvention` relates to shippingboxes.` and more particularly to slipping'boxesA made from paper board, such as kraft lined corrugated board,

jute corrugated board,4or the like. l

The primary object of the invention is to provide a `box which is, strongin construction, inexpensive,V easy to erect, and which isformeclV from a singleblank.

A further object is to provide a shippngbox which is formed4 from asingle blank and which has asti-ong reinforcedv construction at all'vertical edgesy or.. corners.

A further object is Ito. provide a, box,r formed from a single blank, with multiple thickness por.- tionsreinforcing the end portions of the iront and back walls.

A further object is to .providea box, ,formed from a single blank, and. havinga .folding cover, with means for reinforcing-the fold .upon which A further object is to.l providey a box, formed, from a single blank and'` having a folding cover.

and a locking tab at the free endi of` the cover,

with an integral folded, portionat the upper` end. ofgthe box for suppOrtingjthe free end ofl the-cover Y and retaining the locking tab.

A. further` object isto provide en -shipping box` havingI a foldedcover, which is constructed and arranged to accommodatelockingor sealing` of the cover, by` the use of staples.

A...further object, is to .provide a shipping box.

A' further object list provi-de a -bomwith-e fold: ing'fcover-having a downturnedwflapportion-car= ryingjV an1 upturnedl flap` portion`4 at its "free end,J

4 whereby said' flap lportionsforni-a pocket closed-'i s at-its lower en dand adapted to Areeeivetthe anvil* of a stapling machine-for the purposefof'stapling;l the outermost flap to an adjacentboxjwalli'whi'le theV innermost nap prevents engagement. of'said anvil withV the contents of the-box:

101' AA further object is to provide a box witha.`

having" a folded cover,Y a locking tongue at ,the .t

outer'end of the-cover adapted to extendadja` whereinthebox andzcover are slotted adjacent said.` nanges to receive the anvil kof 'a stapling machine adapted to staple said flanges tmthe adiacentxboxrparts fo'r the purposevof4 sealing-thaw f 40 cent.. a` vertical box wall, `and horizontal, flanges at theupper 'edges'.of the boxgendsto `overlie the f marginalcover; portions; wherein, staples; secure` the; cover;` tab to the adjacent boxwall and secure the margins of the cover totheangesunderlying- 45 most stapled part to protect and separate folding cover-wherein portions of the boxandfof* thecovermare arranged 'in face .juxtaposition to." l:e*.'=,tapled together, and wherein a return' bent." flange is provided on the inner endof the innerthe box. contents from the stapled part.'

Other objects will be apparent from `the description, drawings, and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. lis a plan view ofthe blank utilized in. making'the box.

Fig; 2 is a perspective view of the-boxV withthey cover open.

Fig; 3 is a perspective View of the box Withth'e cover closed.`

Fig.I 4'is a transverse verticalsectional view of the box taken on line 4-4 4of, Fig. 3.V v

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectonal'view` of the box taken on4 line 5-5 'of 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view. of.- the boxtakenon line 6--6 of Fig. 4.,

Fig. 'Tis a fragmentary detail sectional view or the box taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detailsectionalview corresponding to Fig. 7 but illustratingfa. modied embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is, a fragmentary Adetail sectional view ofl the box similarto Fig, 7 but illustratinganotherl ,modiedembodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, which illustratewthe preferred` embodimentv of. the` invention.4 the.`

' tially.\45?to fold linelfas shownvinfFigs.l 1 '-andv 5. A longitudinal fold line I1 separates the front panel I2 from the bottom panel I3, longitudnal fold line I8 separates the bottom panel I3 from the back panel I4, a longitudinal fold line I9 separates the back panel I4 from the cover panel I5, and a longitudinal fold line 20 separates the panel I and the cover flange I6.

Lateral portions extend at opposite sides of the central portion lof the blank above described, between the fold lines I I and transverse fold lines 2| spaced inwardly from each end of the blank. End panels 22 are formed in the blank at opposite ends of and longitudinally aligned With the bottom panel I3, and are defined by the fold lines II, 2I, I1 and I8. Square reinforcing panels are formed at opposite sides of each of the end panels 22 and are provided with diagonal central fold lines 23 which extend therethrough from the junctions of the fold lines I1 or I8 with the fold lines II. These fold lines 23 divide the square reinforcing panels into triangular panels 24. Rectangular panels 25 project from the uppermost reinforcing panels 24 and are defined at their lower edges by the longitudinal fold lines I9. The inner edges of lthe flanges 25 are' dened by slots 26` extending from the upper edges thereof to thefold line I9.

Eachy end of the blank is provided with a rectangular flange portion 21 opposite and aligned with the end panels 22 'and defined by the fold lines I1, I8 and 2|. From the upper and lower ends of flange portions 21 extend square reinforcing panels 28 which are provided with diagonal fold lines 29 which extend from the outer corners thereof to the junction of the fold lines I1 or I8 with the .fold line 2|.

When the box is to be erected, the blank is folded along lines II, I1, and I8, andthe rectangular reinforcing portions are folded inwardly along the diagonal fold lines 23 to bring the two triangular panels 24 into engagement with each other and with the adjacent front and back panels I2 and I4. Suitable securing means, such as staples 30, are then passed through the two triangular panels 24 and the adjacent one of the front and back walls, for the purpose of securing the box in erected position with the walls I2, I4, and 22 all in' vertical position'. The flanges 25 will then be positioned in face engagement with the cover I5,'and they are stapled to the cover i5 by'me'ans of the staples 3|. The staples 39 and 3I serve as the sole means for securing the box in erected position, although itwill be understood that, in the event the' flanges 25 are eliminated, only the Vstaples 30' would be employed to hold the'box erect.

When the box has been erected as aforesaid, the end flanges 21 and the square reinforcing panels 28 will then extend in vertical position, as illustrated at the left in Fig. 2, to fully expose the interior space of the box. This permits the box to be packed quickly and efliciently, without interference from any part projecting over the space Within the box walls. Thereupon, the reinforcing panels 28 may be folded inwardly along diagonal fold line 29 and longitudinal fold lines I1 and I8. to position the end flanges 21 horizontally as illustrated at the right in Fig. 2. When the end panels 21 are in horizontal position, the triangular portions of the renforcing panels 28 on opposite sides of the front line 29 will extend in vertical position bearing against the front and back walls of the box, and will serve as means at the ends of the flanges 21 for effectively and positively supporting said flanges 21 in horizontal position. Thereupon, the cover of the box is folded to horizontal position about the fold line I9 to assume a position with its transverse marginal portions bearing upon and supported by the end anges 21. The cover tab I6 is folded downwardly and is adapted to extend Within the box Where' its opposite ends are received in the pockets defined by the inner and outer triangular portions of the folded flange reinforcing panel 29.

This construction serves to support the free end of the cover in a manner to prevent its depression into the box, and also serves to insure retention of the cover tab I6 in its closed position. It will be understood in this yconnection that many boxes provided with folding covers are subjected, `when loaded, to stresses which tend to urge the box cover upwardly away from the top of the box, and -which make it dlcult to seal the box because of the necessity on the part of the operator to manually hold the cover closed while performing the sealing operation. In the instant box, once the operator has inserted the ends of the cover flange I6 into the pockets provided by the folded reinforcing panel portions 28, said folded portions grip said flange in a manner to insure retention thereof in said pockets, and

o thereby to prevent the box lid from springing upwardlyfrom fully seated or closed relation.

Attention is specifically called to the following important features of thisr box. First, the reinforcement of the long dimension vertical walls of the box, namely, the front wall I 2 and the back wall I4, by virtue of the securing of triangular reinforcing panels 24 thereto. This not only strengthens the elongated vertical walls of the box, but also reinforces each of the four vertical box corners. Second, the securing of the tabs 25 to the box cover serves to reinforce the fold I9 about which the cover I5 hinges. In connection with this feature it will be apparent that one of the critical points of any paper board box having a folded cover is the fold line between the back wall and the cover. When the boxes are loaded Iwith material which must be compressed to permit full closing of the cover, such as material in the nature of clothing or the like. a substantial strain is exerted upon the fold line I9 between .the vertical box wall and the cover. In the instant construction the securing of the portions 25 to the cover provides a double thickness box portion along the major portion of the fold line I9 and adjacent the two ends thereof, so that all stress which is exerted upon the fold lines is taken up by two thicknesses of material and the danger of breakage or tearing of the box material at this fold line is substantially avoided. Third, the end flanges 21 of the box are positively supported in horizontal position by means of the integral folded reinforcing panels 28, so that said end flanges form a positive weight sustaining reinforcement underlying the opposite ends of the cover and serve to insure against collapse of the cover into the box when heavy stresses are applied to the cover. Fourth, the seating of the cover flap I6 within the box and within the pocket formed by the folded panel 28 serves to support the free end ofthe box against collapse and to lock the cover against springing thereof to open position under torque or stress applied to the box.

For the purpose of sealing the box, the cover I5 is preferably provided with one or more short narrow slots 35 Whose outer edges substantially coincide with the fold line 20. These slots are spaced from the opposite ends of the cover I5,

and, if a plurality thereof is provided, are also spaced substantially from each other. Slots 35 are adapted for the reception of an elongated narrow anvil-carrying arm 36 of any conventional stapling machine 31, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig, 8, which may be employed for the purpose of applying a staple 38 to the box to pass through and secure together the cover flange I6 and the front wall I2 of the box. The slots 35 may be of small size so as not to interfere with the strength of the box nor to permit tampering with or pilfering of the box contents. Thus, it is possible to restrict the size of these slots to a width of about le of an inch and tol a length of about 3A of an inch. One or more slots 39 may be formed in the upper portion of each end wall 22 with its upper edge substantially coinciding with the fold line 2| for the purpose of receiving the anvil arm of a stapling machine for applying a staple 40 to secure each end flange 21 to one of the end margins of the cover I5. The advantages of staples 38 and 40 as box seals are: simplicity; low cost; facility of application by hand; avoidance of necessity for handling or manipulation of the box while loaded to effect sealing thereof; avoidance of cutting of the box incident to the sealing, as may occur where tensioned binding members encircling the box are utilized to seal the same; and elimination of projections, such as the knots of box-encircling members.

A further improvement of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. This improvement involves the provision of a tab or flange 4I folded from the bottom or free edge of cover ange I6 and extending in an upward direction. In the Fig. 8 embodiment, the upwardly extending tab 4I is positioned inwardly with respect to the cover tab I6; while the Fig. 9 embodiment entails the positioning of tab 4I outwardly with respect to the cover tab I6. In each instance, the two tabs I6 and 4I serve to provide a pocket open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, into which the anvil arm 36 of the stapling machine 31 may be inserted to apply the staples. In the Fig. 8 embodiment, the provision of slots 35 is necessary to permit insertion of the anvilarm, 36 of the stapling machine into the pocket between tabs I6 and 4I for the purpose of securing the tab I6 to the box wall I2 by staples 38. In the Fig. 9 embodimenathe use of slots is avoided by virtue of the fact that the tab 4I is positioned outwardly of the tab I6` so that the pocket between said tabs is open to permit the insertion of the anvil arm 36 therein. In order that the type of seal shown in Fig. 9 be made fully effective, the staple 38 must be positioned close to the lower end of tab 4I and to the fold between tabs 4I and I6, so as to reduce toa minimum the possibility of any play occurring by reason of the double fold between the tab 4I and the box cover l5. Most stapling machines are constructed with the stapling anvil positioned at the extreme outer end of arm 36, so that stapling of the parts close to the fold between tabs I6 and 4I is not diflicult to accomplish.

While the box sealing means has been illustrated herein as applied to the box formed from a. single blank as above described, it will be obvious that such sealing means may be used with equal facility upon boxes formed of two, three or more blanks or parts by simply providing the same with the flanges on the cover andthe end walls necessary for the stapling operation, and with the access slots 35 and 39 or tabs 4|. Likewise it is obvious that tabs similar to tabs 4I may be formed on the ends of the horizontal flanges 21 on the end walls 22, so that the advantages thereof can be incorporated at all points of the box which are to be stapled.

The primary purpose of tabs 4I is to conne the anvil arm 36 of the stapling machine within a restricted space in the box during its insertion and use for stapling the box parts; and to provide a separator panel between arm 36 and the contents of the box which elimina-tes all danger of damaging the box contents by contact with said anvil arm or by impaling of said contents by the staples. This is particularly important where the box contents are formed of fabric or other non-metallic material which might easily be impaled or pierced by a staple, even when the staple is applied by a hand operated stapling machine.

Attention is also directed to two additional features of the box which greatly facilitate erection and increase its strength. The first of these is the beveled ends of cover tab I6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Note particularly in Fig. 5, how the beveled form is complementary t0 the fold lines 29 between the triangular reinforcing portions 28, so that the cover tab fits snugly between said portions 28 and the cover is prevented from lateral dislocation relative to the box by engagement with the folds 29. This materially increases the strength of the box. The other feature is that, by locating the diagonal fold line 23 of reinforcing panel 24, and diagonal fold line 29 of reinforcing panel 28, slightly oifset from true medial position so as to make the triangular portion thereof adapted to be positioned outermost, slightly smaller than the other triangular portion, the folding of panels 24 and 28 along their respective fold lines 23 and 29 will automatically cause said triangular folded portions to lie flat against the adjacent front and back walls. The advantageobtained by this arrangement lies in .the fact that it is not necessary to manually hold the reinforcing portions 24 during the stapling operation, and that the triangular portions 28 will extend vertically to assure solid reinforcement of end flanges 21 and to assure vertical positioning of the pocket between the front portions 28 for quick insertion of cover tab I6 therein.

I claim:

A box comprising a body part including bottom and side panels, a foldable part including a cover panel folded from the upper edge of one of said side panels, a flap folded perpendicularly inwardly from an edge of a panel of one box part and folded centrally inwardly uponitself to define linner and outer ilap portions, the panel from which said flap is bent having a narrow opening between the planes of the inner faces of the two flap parts to receive and guide the anvil arm of a stapling machine between said flap parts, and a staple securing the outer flap part to the adjacent panel of the other box part, said inner flap part shielding the interior of the box from dirt entering said slot.

J OI-IN E. BORAH. JUDITH M, BORAH. 

